Improvement in corn-planters



2 Sheets$heet 1.

. P. BABCOCK.

CORN-PLANTER.

Patented Jan.i18, 1876.

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N. PETERS, PMOTO-UTHOGRAPNER, WASHlNGT ON, Dr C.

Z Sheets-Sheet 2.

3.1. BABCOCK.

CORN-'PLANTER.

Patented Jan.18,1876.

a l! flal m N PETERS. PHOTO-L THQGRAFHE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SYLVESTER P. BABOOGK, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. F2369, dated January18, 1876; application filed August 6, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SYLVESTER P. BAB- oooK, of the city of Adrian, Stateof Michigan, have invented an Improvement in Hand Corn-Planters, ofwhich the following is a specification:

The object of my invention is the production of a hand corn-planterwhich will deposit the desired amount of corn with a regularity in thenumber of the grains at each operation, and without cutting or mashingthe same, which at the same time Will avoid as much as possible allfriction, and be effective in operation.

My invention consists in cutting away the plunger on the upper side ofthe seed-cavity; and, further, in the combination of the operativeparts, all as more fully hereinafter explained.

To enable others skilled in the art to make my device, I now proceed todescribe the same in connection with the drawings, in which- Figure 1represents a central vertical section; Fig. 2, a separate perspectiveview of the spring-plate and attachment. Fig. 3 is an enlarged frontelevation of a portion of the plunger, illustrating the seed-cavity andcutaway portion above the same; and Fig. 4 is a vertical central sectionof similar parts.

Similar letters denote corresponding parts in each figure.

A is the main supporting-bar, having attached to its outside, near itslower end, a block, j. Above the block j there is an opening, L,entirely through the bar A, and having its lower end Z inclinedinwardly. To the outside of the bar A, and covering a part of theopening L, is a cup, 19, which forms a continuation of the lower end ofthe said opening. 13 is the plunger, having a suitable handle on itsupper end. A slot. 1), is made in the plunger, and a set-screw, i, issecured to the bar A, projecting through said slot. The slot andset-screw limit the vertical movement of the plunger, the lower end ofsaid plunger being about even with the lower end of the supporting-barat one end of its stroke, and a short distance above the end lot theopening L at the opposite end of the stroke. The plunger has a seedcavity, h, which is a hole pass ing entirely through it, and may beprovided ately.

with any suitable device for adjusting its size.

This seed-cavity passes diagonally through about one-eighth (g) of aninch, or nearly the thickness of a grain of corn in depth, and extendingupwardly along the plunger, gradually diminishing in depth, as shown bym, with the top edge of such seed cavity rounded into the cut-awayportion, and the lower side of the said seed-cavity on the face of theplunger forms a cutting-knife, n, the operation of which parts will beexplained hereinafter. O is the hopper, constructed of sheet metal, andformed by wrapping it around the block A. It is secured to the sides ofthe supportingbar, and incloses the plunger. The hopper is provided witha suitable cover, 0. A is a block of wood placed in the lower part ofthe hopper, and closing the entire lower end of said hopper, except suchpart as is occupied by the plunger. The sides of the hopper above theblock A are filled out with pieces of wood or other material, g, whichmakes the hopper at this point about the same width as the seedcavityand cut-awav portion. To the sides of the lower portion of the bar A,and below the hopper, are secured two projecting wings, O G. E is thescraper, made of sheet-steel. To the center of the scraper is attached aplate, at, having its outer edges turned up and notched, as shown by a,the notches being opposite each other. The scraper is secured to theplanter by a pin, a projecting through holes in the wings C. By thesemeans the scraper can be adjusted vertically, or fed forward, or can bereversed.

The operation is as follows: The hopper is filled with corn, whichpresses against the face of the plunger, and, consequently, in thecutaway portion m. On the upward movement of the plunger theknit'e-edgeit, when it reaches the upper part of the block A, divides the grainswhich are in the cut-away portion from the rest, and raises themupwardly, which, from their own weight, and the downward tendency of thecavity, fill the same immedi- The plunger passing down, the grains inthe seed-cavity, after it has passed below the top of the block, fall bytheir weight into tween the scraper and the supporting-bar. On

the next downward stroke of the plunger they are forced into the ground,and another quantity of seed deposited into the cup 12.

The cut-away portion on the plunger prevents the corn resting on theblock A from clogging or stopping the downward gnovement ot' theplunger, as is the case with planters as heretofore made, the saidcutaway portion pressing the grains backward like a wedge.

The block j serves to keep the planter the right distance in the groundunder all circuur stances.

Having thus described my device, what I- claim as new therein, and myinvention, is

1. The combination, with the vertically-moving plunger, of the diagonalseed-cavity and the cutaway portion above such seed-cavity,

substantially as described and shown.

2. The combination, with the vertically-moving plunger B, of thediagonal seed-cavity h, cut-away portion m, and block A, substantiallyas described and shown.

'3. The combination, with the supportingbar A and plunger B, of thediagonal seedcavity h, cut-away portion m, seed-hopper G, and cup 19,substantially as described and shown.

4. In combination, the supporting-bar-A,the plunger B, secured to saidsupporting-bar by the slot b and screw '6, the hopper 0, having Q sides9 and block A, the seed-cavity h, cutaway portion m, and cup 19, theseveral parts being constructed and arranged to operate substantially asdescribed and shown.

SYLVESTER P. BABOOOK.

Witnesses:

S. M. BABGOGK, O. F. GREGORY.

